common broom
- noun
- UK
- The common broom is easily recognized by its vibrant yellow blossoms in late spring.
Examples
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They planted common broom along the hillside for both beauty and erosion control.
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Many gardeners love the common broom for its bright yellow flowers.
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Gardeners prize common broom for its hardiness and colorful appearance.
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The common broom blooms beautifully in spring.
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Gardeners prize common broom for its hardiness and colorful appearance.
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The common broom is easily recognized by its vibrant yellow blossoms in late spring.
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They planted common broom along the hillside for both beauty and erosion control.
Synonyms
A shrub with thin green stems and yellow flowers that helps hold soil
A shrub with bright yellow flowers from western Europe called broom
A shrub with slender green branches and bright yellow flowers often grown in gardens
A bush with bright yellow flowers often grown in gardens
A small shrub with yellow flower clusters used to make dye and sometimes grown in gardens
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is a straightforward adjective + noun combination: 'common' (widespread/ordinary) modifies 'broom' (a woody shrub with yellow flowers), so the meaning ‘the widespread/typical broom shrub’ is directly derivable from the constituents. This follows normal species-naming and adjectival modification patterns found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both words should understand it.
Etymology
Common broom: The plant name common broom comes from an old use: people tied the bush's long, thin branches to make a cleaning broom. Because the plant grew in many places, they added common, so today common broom means the bush with bright yellow flowers.